I'll post soon I promise

Once I get some homework taken care of... and get my face out of the peanut butter jar... seriously, I have a problem... I will write about the ISS trip to Connemara on Friday and the windy hike to the Maamturks on Sunday.

For now, let's just say the hike was more fun, I need to learn how to ration pb, Ireland does not have dried beans anywhere (and thus no Hispanics probably), and Rachel is going to come visit me! And I have a ticket and I'm going to go visit Ellen in Cambridge!

Tuesday nights at Monroe's!

Monday: nothing special. Class, homework or sort of... I'm still trying to get into a pattern of being on top of my reading instead of last minute

Tuesday: Kevin's 20th Birthday! After class Chelsea and I went grocery shopping for our dinner, to which Mandy later joined after her lab. I am cheap and so we went to four different places, the only reason we went to the fourth was because I forgot an ingredient at the third. That's right, I walk by four grocery stores on my way home from school.

When I got back I got to Skype call Kevin to wish him a happy birthday. Sadly, every time I've done this (both times) my roommate has been sleeping and so I've had to quiet my voice and calm my excitement. I don't think my friends realize how much I absolutely love hearing their voices, even if I'm being teased/abused in the process (Justin made the creepy noise :( ... it feels like home :). Plus, Chelsea was over and I feel awkward being on a phone around someone else so I sadly had to cut it short but oh how I can't wait to skype again with them and anyone else for that matter!

I made skillet style lasagna, tweaked a bit, but it was delicious! We three ate it all up before heading out to Monroe's Pub. Every Tuesday night they've got traditional music and set dancing. There is this little old guy named Michael who is known for grabbing nearby girls int he audience and teaching them to dance. Mandy, her friends and I were fortunate enough to be nearby and we danced the first set. Once the "real" dancers showed up - a group of people who know what they're doing and just come every Tuesday for some good old craic- most sat down but Michael held onto me and I kept on dancing!

It was like what I'd always wanted: to catch a live trad band and do some dancing myself! I danced for thirty minutes, following Michael's lead or whatever man I got passed to. I had no idea what I was doing with my feet, but enough onlookers thought that I was part of the set so I guess I fooled them. I can't express how much fun I had but I will most definitely be there every Tuesday night!

Wednesday: nothing noteworthy. I bought a ticket for the International Students' Society's three day trip to Kerry in March. Only 35 euro, hostel, transport and a couple of meals included. I thought it was a deal! Only downside was I went to school early to get my ticket with the plan to just chill at the library until class at 2. As soon as I got to school I realized I register for classes today and had left it all at home. Yeah, when you live a half hour walk away, forgetting something is a real pain in the ass. OH well, it's my exercise.

1st Hike: The Burren

Definitely not quite what I expected it to be: more intense, more beautiful, more difficult, more breathtaking and phenomenal than I could have predicted.

The bus left at 9:30 with a group of hikers and climbers. I, along with five others-- Mandy, Chelsea (different from yesterday's Chelsea), Anne (a new friend from Germany), Pat (a 50 or so yr old man) and Andrew (the leader, 4th yr engineering student from Ireland)-- opted for the shorter walk, and am I ever glad I didn't try more!

We were dropped off at the base of a hill in The Burren, in County Clare and known for its desolate, rocky, stony landscape. We started off just walking up a hill of a road but soon it turned into a bit of actual climbing! I didn't look up for a good bit, you just have to watch your step. There are rocks, cut out from, Pat said, acid rain from ages unknown to man. The rocks have all of these crags that you don't want to drop anything down b/c they go quite deep. It sort of reminded me of a glacier, but stony. You know, how glaciers have all of those cuts in them and you just walk across them avoiding the cracks, it was like that but way less intense and obviously not ice.

I'd expected more of a "here's a trail, let's follow it, there may be inclines but no biggie." Instead I got, let's traverse these rocks at an incline, following rock walls, most likely famine walls, up the hill. The hills were somewhat like steps. You climb, zig zaggins up, and then you reach this plateau. At the flat breaks, not only did we get a breather, but out came the cameras! Looking around, we felt like we were in Middle Earth (no joke). Behind us was the sea, and Galway off in the distance. Down below were perfectly cut out squares of property and little houses. Immediately behind us was the bit we just climbed up (when I say climb I mean took big steps up versus just a stride and occasionally held onto something to help push me up, nothing dangerous Mom, I promise). The scenery was breathtaking. Each time we climbed another hill part we couldn't believe that the same area could get prettier and prettier.

The company was great! Pat and Andrew were this wealth of knowledge on history, pop culture and everything in between. Anne is as nice as can be and of course Mandy and Chelsea rock my face off. And... I finally remembered to get Stanley out, everyone was quite fond of Mr Flat Stanley. We took a lunch break or two and breaks in between for camera shots and breathers. It was just right. I was disgustingly sweaty but never too overtaxed and we couldn't have asked for better weather: clear and sunny skies!

We probably got there around 11 or so and made our way back down by 4. The walk down was actually harder: my feet were a bit sore and different muscles all together. We passed by some furry cows on the way down that didn't bother us at all. The walk down was a bit muddy, but come to find out the Burren is most likely the only dry walk, the others go through some marshy/boggy areas. That makes me think this was probably a good one to start with!

Once the others made it back we stopped at a pub and chilled for a while. Pat is awesome and bought us girls hot chocolate: perfect because we were chilly and fatigued and it was a delicious pick me up. Once we made it back the sprinkling began, but I've walked home in the rain before so no worries. I had to do hw when I got back but I got to talk to Rachel on Skype so I basically got to end the day in a lovely way.

Definitely one of my favorite days so far.

I kissed the Blarney Stone

Earliest wake up yet to get to the bus from Galway to Cork, leaving city centre at 7 am. I got a little nervous b/c my travel buddies, Mandy, Caitlyn and her new roommate Chelsea, got there just in time. That's right, in Ireland, I am early (shocking, I know!).

So we took a 3 hr or so bus to Cork. I stayed awake for a good bit of it and was amazed by the scenery along the way---it was pitch black to begin with... thus sleeping... but later on it was beautiful landscapes of green. We made a pit stop in Limerick so I guess I can say that I've "been there." In Cork we explored the shop street area for a bit before catching the bus to Blarney. Almost afraid we wouldn't fit on, but yay for standing space... on a half hr bus ride...

In Blarney we followed the whole bus full of people towards the castle. Once on the estate, we took our time being full tourists and taking pictures of everything! The Castle is so impressive! We started out at the dungeons area. I went back a ways, but once you had to crouch down or crawl to go I stopped... mud, big backpack, small spaces, I'm sorry, I took a picture but didn't go much farther. Eventually, after checking out the inside of what used to be the watchtower we entered the castle.

The castle is interesting in that you can see through three floors or so at a time because the old floors/ceilings are no longer there. So, at the base I could see the level that held the family room and where that fireplace used to be, then above it a ways another fireplace for the banquet hall, and then yet again above more evidence of another room. It was really neat walking through the different rooms and reading the signs, especially those that helped explain how such and such was made in order to help beat back attackers on the castle. EX: an area right next to the kitchen from which you could pour boiling oil onto unwelcome visitors.

At the top we got in line to kiss the stone. It was a most beautiful day, and we had perfect timing b/c sprinkles just started to fall as we neared the stone. I was first to go and sat down while the guy held onto me, grabbed hold of the two bars, leaned back/crawled down and kissed the stone before being helped back up.

After fully exploring the castle we checked out the grounds. We went to Rock Close, a place that really did feel enchanted (as cheesy as it sounds). Following the arrows we saw ancient rocks forming Druid's Circle, within which it is believed that you are protected from evil spirits. We climbed the wishing steps, checked out the Witch's fireplace and hugged a couple of awesome trees. The natural beauty was phenomenal. Not that Galway City isn't lovely, but I was needing me some trees and greenery!

Then we waited around for the bus back to Cork. Ate and bought a hoodie in Cork (I didn't pack right at all for Ireland but can justify buying clothes if it is a hoodie/souvenir... it's green and says "Ireland" on it of course). Then the bus ride back. First half sleeping, second half talking with Mandy and Chelsea, sharing stories about our pets, friends and families. I miss you all!

First adventure within Ireland outside of Galway was a blast!

I saw the Sun!

No classes today.

I got up and tried to work on homework. Read about the tragedy of the commons... it takes a lot of effort to get hw done here and I didn't give it much effort. I took a nap, yes, I took a nap after only 2 hrs of being up... Irene was still sleeping, I didn't feel bad about it. I had a 12 noon appt with Immigration, which is conveniently right in front of my apartment.

The Garda who took care of my paperwork was quite friendly. The guy who gave the talk at orientation made it seem rather scary, far from the truth. The worst part of it was paying the 150 euro fee. My guy was nice, he awkwardly said, "Now Jillian, I'm afraid here is where we have to ask you to pay for the pleasure of your company here." At least I walked out of there with a cool immigration card, and not a bad picture.. .or at least I've had worse.

I met up with Mandy at the Square. We bought our bus tickets for tomorrow, 10 euro more than what it said online. That lady, however, was quite unpleasant. Boo to her. We then made our way out to the bay to explore in the sun, sans the hurricane winds. I will soon post pictures of Ireland in the sun (after the Blarney and Burren trips).

Once we started venturing out onto the rocks, it began to hail. It was Ireland's way of saying "get off the rocks you silly Americans." So we listened, then went grocery shopping (I already ate all the grapes I bought... sad). On my way back I visited Caitlyn who moved to a closer apartment complex.

Nothing exciting tonight. I need to do hw, so far I have eaten, gotten online, eaten a bit more and then watched Bones. Now I'm going to start my homework... for real, I swear!

Bought my boots!

Today I got up at 7, that's the earliest so far here!
I went to school early in order to get one of the International Students' Society's 11 euro tickets for the upcoming (next Friday) trip to Conemarra. turns out the SocBox didn't even open until 10. But I worked on my Irish while waiting, I can now remember the simple greetings, can't tell you if my pronunciation is right but, "Dia duit" is May God be upon you, aka Hello. And "Is mise Jillian" is I am Jillian. Too bad Irish doesn't sound like it reads... I can't even begin to explain how that first one sounds... The second one is sort of like "ees meesha..."

So I was late to my Social Stratification and Inequalities class, but you're given a 10-15 minute period in which it's definitely ok for you to be late within so all was good. We actually had a lecture in this first class. A small seminar, I think it will be interesting, especially once I get over the fact that my professor has the most horrible comb over ever... Cheap shot I know, I like the guy ok though so it wasn't meant to be malicious.

Then I had Irish. I like that class a lot. Dathi, pronounced da-hee, is our professor and is very energetic and just good at teaching Irish. We get some of the grammar but it's mostly about talking, which is what languages are for- I'm waiting for language teachers in the US to realize that...
After class I stayed around at the library until Mandy was done with hers so that we could go get our mountaineering gear together. We wound up getting the same boots, cheapest ones at 75 but we got 10% off so wohoo! We then proceeded to get me a rain jacket, her waterproof pants, we split a package of socks and we both got pretty kick ass (aka huge) beanies. Now I only need gloves, I wish I'd though to have those shipped, oh well!

Then return home and not much else done. I attempted homework, ate a ton of pb (it's terribly addictive, and what's this I hear of a salmonella breakout in the PB at home?!). I did a wee bit of hw and then got online- found out that one of my scholarships is in limbo b/c it needs to be signed for... -, lost track of time. I did figure out the buses and times for the Blarney Stone adventure on Saturday and am now ready for the hike on Sunday to The Burren so all was not lost!

Two parties in one night, I sound like I have a life!

So on weds I don't start until 2. So I spent the morn researching Cork. I believe I might be kissing a stone this weekend... and possibly be granted the Eloquence the Blarney Stone is said to bestow.

I had my first class of Irish today... yeah, I don't remember hardly anything, I remember how to say hello, which in Irish actually translates "May God be upon you" but I feel as though I'm pronouncing it not quite right. Well, I've got it again tomorrow so we'll see!

Then to Developmental geography, with a one hr break, and then developmental geography again. Does that make any sense to you? It doesn't to me either... So far, the most frustrating thing about classes is that all the teachers keep saying they will post notes/assingments/readings on Blackboard. I can't access Blackboard until I register for the classes... next week. Ugh.

So anyways, I came home, ate, talked with Caitlyn about the Saturday excursion to the stone and then somehow saw time pass until I had to make my trek to the city center for the Hispano Society's party at Bar 8 and then the International Students' Society Party at Paddy's Pub.

The Hispano Soc's party was lovely! Very chill. I got there and they provided sangria. I quite enjoyed it, very fruity, and not high on the alcohol content so it was easy to drink a few. I met some really awesome people. Surprisingly, most of the people I meet aren't Irish, although half of them here were, but I met a few Germans at the welcome party. then, of course, I met some Spaniards and even a French guy. Quite the international shin dig, lots of people like Spanish I guess. It was nice, I really enjoyed the conversation. I feel likeit was a nice alternative to the drunk sillyness that followed at the ISS party. Plus, one girl at the Hisp Soc gave me further incentive to backpack through Latin America b/c she did so just recently, 6 months (Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela) and had a blast! I also keep finding out how small the world is b/c there she met some Irish guys also backpacking and come to find out they knew some of the same people.

Anyways, I left there after about an hr and a half to meet up with my friend Yeekay (pronounced as if you say the letters "E K") at the ISS party. Met some new people there, danced a bit (horrible music but fun times) and then left. Now I'm looking at my calendar and figuring out when I'm going where... homework will wait for Friday I think...